The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-13
TOOK HIM TO THE GAME.
Luke Sharp, in Detroit Free Press.

UOn0nleS s Iat0er was w ndt IS pOpu- larly termed a sscrank" on base ball. He had season ticket, and there were very few games at which he did not occupy his usual seat on the grand stand. He admitted that this was not a very good example to set to his son, but then he knew Johnnie was stu dious boy, and he did not expect the example would hurt him much. In fact, at home, it was generally sup posed that Johnnie's father was at- tending to business down town, when in reality he was up at the ball grounds. Johnnie's father believed the way to get along with boys was to be reasonably honest with them, and to tell them squarely what was expected of them and then put them on their honor in the matter of per forming their duties. So before the base ball season commenced .Johnnie's father called the boy to him and said i:
 Now, Johnnie, 1 admit that Pm pretty fond of good game of base ball. don't go merely to see the game, but as needful matter of re- taxation. like to see the science of the game. Besides, 1 have great many business cares that you know nothing of at your age, and it is nec- essary that 1 should have some means ot forgetting them HOW and then. But l am anxious that you should pass into the high school this year, and so I don't want you to go to any of the ball games until you pass your examinations. You understand me?"
 "Oh, yes," said Johnnie, "but don't you think it would relax my mind. too, from the hard studies, if saw game now and then?"
 "Well, frankly, Johnnie, I don't Base ball would distract your mind, not relax it. Besides, when the school closes I'll take you up to game with me, and l'll explain all the points to you."
 "Thank you, father" said Johnnie, demurely, as he went off to school. When the examinations were over Johnnie's father was as good as his word, and Johnnie took his place be- side him on the grand stand.
 "Now," said Johnnie's father, "I suppose you have seen games of base ball played at school?"
 Johnnie admitted that such was the case.
 Well, I suppose you play by the league rules: still, if there are any points you don't understand, just ask me and will explain them. There comes the other club. Those are not the Detroits. You'll see them by and by. The Philadelphias are going to practice bit They always do that before the game starts. That's to Timber them up."
 Johnnie listened with that respect ful attention which a boy should always give to his father.
 "There," began the latter, .'those are the Detroits. White uniform. That's the umpire in the gray suit. I suppose you don't have umpires in your games at school"
 "Oh, yes we do," said Johnnie; couldn't get along without an um- pire, you know"
 "That gong" continued Johnnie's father, "means that the game is going tO ocS HI. AHC lIClIOito So Io DdI' No, by George, the Detroits are going into the field"
 "Hellow cried Johnnie. "there's Deacon White back at third. Pm glad. I like the old Deacon. He's great with the stick when the boys get in close pinch"
 If Johnnie had not been SO inter- ested in the game he might have no- ticed an ominous gloom settle on his fathers brow.
 "Three strikes and four balls," con- tinued Johnnie, getting very excited. "Next one tells the tale. An! foul tip; red hot one, too. I guess if Ganzel had been catching he'd got that one."
 ''What makes you think so!" said Johnnie's father, severely.
 "Oh, you know Cancels great on the catch. Remember that game with the-o At this moment Johnnie seemed to recollect himself. He looked up uneasiiy at his father and stammered: "Well, the papers say he's good catcher"
 "You seem to have read the base ball reports very carefully" said Johnnie's father, sternly.
 '1Oh, do," stammered Johnnie.
 Remarkable how they enabled you to recognize Deacon White"
 Johnnie had no explanation of that phenomenon handy at that moment, so he said nothing.
 At the last innings Detroit was four ahead of the opponents. There was Philadelphia man on third base The pitcher threw a wild ball, which the catcher could not get his hands on.